Picturing the Exotic Aquatic

There is an entire quartet of July birthdays in Jason’s family. This year it was wisely decided that they should all be celebrated in unison. With summer showing off in the mountains, taking the party uphill was practically a no-brainer.

A slow shutter speed transformed this stream of water into a delicate cascading fabric.
A slow shutter speed transformed this stream of water into a delicate cascading fabric.
The details of this water's path, forever immobilized by my quick shutter, are fascinating.
The details of this water’s path, forever immobilized by my quick shutter, are fascinating.
Carley wanted a picture of her new family and I was happy to accommodate.
Carley wanted a picture of her new family and I was happy to accommodate.

The clan met at the mouth of American Fork Canyon on a sunny afternoon ready to begin their vehicular ascent. We stopped for a lovely picnic lunch in the shade along our route before continuing on to our destination, Cascade Springs. For the two people in Utah that are unfamiliar with Cascade Springs, it’s an unexpected oasis of clear pools, lush vegetation and idyllic streams. Since peaceful water features aren’t too common in this desert, Cascade Springs attracts many gawkers and can get a bit crowded at times.

The sun was in the wrong place but this picture of Jason's parents and Aiden turned out alright.
The sun was in the wrong place but this picture of Jason’s parents and Aiden turned out alright.
Here I again captured a split-second of time and made movement motionless.
Here I again captured a split-second of time and made movement motionless.
Poor Jason gets suckered into being my subject material far too often but what a great subject he makes.
Poor Jason gets suckered into being my subject material far too often but what a great subject he makes.
Getting Sabins to behave for pictures is a photographer's worst nightmare. This is the best I could do with all of them wiggling.
Getting Sabins to behave for pictures is a photographer’s worst nightmare. This is the best I could do with all of them wiggling.

Those serene ponds and tumbling falls provided the perfect opportunity for me to practice my newfound photography skills. While not every picture I snapped turned out perfect thanks to the glaring sun, I got some pretty great shots of the scenery and the family.

Jason lurked like a troll under this bridge to vex the girls overhead.
Jason lurked like a troll under this bridge to vex the girls overhead.
You couldn't ask for a more beautiful backdrop than the one provided by these obliging aspens.
You couldn’t ask for a more beautiful backdrop than the one provided by these obliging aspens.
I love how my colorful shirt and trendy shades contrast with the natural setting in this picture.
I love how my colorful shirt and trendy shades contrast with the natural setting in this picture.

After the Sabins backtracked down the canyon, Jason and I lingered at the springs for some more picture taking and then headed to the Horse Flat Trail for some hiking. Along our secluded rambling route my camera, once again, found its way out. I captured everything from the graceful aspens to my stylish hubby. A little exercise and a lot of shooting make for a pleasant afternoon.

Happy birthday to me and the other July three!

Ready, Set, Glo!

What would happen if you combined your nightly workout, some over-the-top iridescent illumination and a dance party? The Glo Run, that’s what.

This crowd was glowing and ready to get going.
This crowd was glowing and ready to get going.

Jason and I, ever the ready participants of anything, signed up for The Glo Run, a 5K night race with bopping lasers and hopping DJs, a couple of months ago. This dash is all about the energy of the night, which is pretty fitting for the likes of me because when the sun goes down the Rachel comes up. You other night owls out there would dig it.

Jason wound as many glow sticks as he could around every appendage.
Jason wound as many glow sticks as he could around every appendage.

Jason and I donned at least a couple dozen glow sticks as we prepared to rock this run in brilliant style; we weren’t the only ones with that bright idea. The hundreds of other participants dressed to the nines in blinking, shimmering, flashing garb. When the race started they all moved like a gaudy fluorescent stream into Sugar House Park, which the course looped twice. That repeat circling meant we got to experience each of the run’s groove spots two times. Excellent!

This tunnel of lighted arches thumped to the music.
This tunnel of lighted arches thumped to the music.

I think the majority of participants envisioned this run as a party with a little exercise involved rather than exercise with a little party involved because there were practically more walkers than runners and some of the partakers were so tired near the end that when the DJ said “jump” they just sunk. But Jason and I were not among the tuckered out, thankfully. We boogied to the music and shimmied with the lights all along the route. We kept up our liveliness throughout and had all the energy of the night and then some.

This was my favorite hangout along the route. Between the black lights and the bubble makers it was pretty trippy.
This was my favorite hangout along the route. Between the black lights and the bubble makers it was pretty trippy.
I slowed down my shutter speed to reduce myself to a blur of light crossing the finish line.
I slowed down my shutter speed to reduce myself to a blur of light crossing the finish line.

It was a dazzling take on a summer standard. Let’s run and roll!

Taking Birthdays to the Max

Frankly speaking, I believe I have the best husband in the world. As cheesy as that assertion may sound, I mean it with total sincerity. No one who has had the privilege of having Jason as a spouse would disagree, which is a good thing because, otherwise, I’d just be arguing with myself. Only the most fabulous of birthday celebrations could satisfactorily commemorate such a fabulous man. With that in mind, this year I decided to take his birthday to the max!

Max Zipline carts groups up to their zip point in a Polaris Ranger. Ours was crammed and crazy.
Max Zipline carts groups up to their zip point in a Polaris Ranger. Ours was crammed and crazy.
Our group was loud and probably more than a little obnoxious but we were also exuberant.
Our group was loud and probably more than a little obnoxious but we were also exuberant.
Jacob wore flip-flops forgetting that closed-toe shoes were required for this activity. Luckily, he had an emergency pair of Jedi boots in his trunk.
Jacob wore flip-flops forgetting that closed-toe shoes were required for this activity. Luckily, he had an emergency pair of Jedi boots in his trunk.
I've zipped a few times but it never gets old.
I’ve zipped a few times but it never gets old.

In lieu of a birthday party, I invited about a dozen friends to tarzan with Jason and me on a zipline tour of Provo Canyon’s leafy canopies. The gods of temperate temperatures magnanimously blessed our whooshful expedition; the day of our zipping was uncharacteristically cool with precipitation in the forecast but the threat of rain never materialized into more than a short-lived sprinkle making the weather ideal. Glory be!

Aimee had no problems zipping like a pro.
Aimee had no problems zipping like a pro.
Jason is an exemplary human being and husband so, as such he deserves an ideal birthday shindig.
Jason is an exemplary human being and husband so, as such, he deserves an ideal birthday shindig.
Kenny had a broken bone in his foot but naughtily removed his boot to zip with us.
Kenny had a broken bone in his foot but naughtily removed his boot to zip with us.

The fine guides at Max Zipline put up with a lot from our raucous group in way of teasing, harassing, ill-conceived maneuvering, blasting and even singing. Evidentially, our enthusiasm was as unparalleled as our volumes though; we were told that we were the most excited crowd they’d had all week. Thanks to our eagerness, those guides consented to show us how to hang upside-down and cast off with flips. Even I, with my lack of admiration for high places, tried a little inverted zipping. With all that topsy-turvy reversed riding, surprisingly, only one of us got our pants in a twist. That lucky individual was Adam and luckily Jason caught it all on film. Click here to see Adam’s pant mishap.

Though not quite as foolish as some members of our gang, Jason was certainly not timid.
Though not quite as foolish as some members of our gang, Jason was certainly not timid.
Lee gave his best faux frightened face as he prepared to whoosh down the longest line, a 1450-foot cable.
Lee gave his best faux frightened face as he prepared to whoosh down the longest line, a 1450-foot cable.
Adam's jean incident didn't frighten him out of trying other stunts.
Adam’s jean incident didn’t frighten him out of trying other stunts.

Although not everyone in our group was equally comfortable with heights, I’d say that the vast majority of us had a spectacular time. And, more importantly, I believe that fantastic man of mine enjoyed himself, which was the whole point of this little adventure. Soaring through lofty aspens and pines with nothing but fresh mountain air tickling your feet is quite the experience. Soaring through lofty aspens and pines with happy birthday choruses ringing out below your wind-tickled feet is probably an even better one but you’d have to ask Jason; he received just such an aerial birthday serenade as he whizzed down his last cable. I won’t lie, the singing didn’t sound so good but how often do you get to hear the hills alive with the sound of off-key music? Happy birthday to my best and favorite bubba!